Rotary switch



July 9, 1929. LE ROY L INDBERG ROTARY SWITCH Filed D90. 19, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Inventor la o/ Wm/a7 i B'y ttornqy lll Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED srarss rarest eerie.' f

LE ROY LENDBERG, OF LAN'GFORD, SOUTH DAKOTA.

y normar 4swiron.

`Application ledDecember 19, 1927. Sera1 No. 241,182.

My invention pertains to improvements iii rotary switches, wherein the same isadapted to be employed for controlling a multiplicity of circuits. i

The nature of thisswitch adapts the saine particularly for use in conjunction with radio sets employing batteries, wherein the bat teries must necessarily` be charged after certain intervals of time when they become cle-energized. l

A more specic purpose of this switch, resides in providing a controlling means in association with a radio outfit, whereby the batteries may be recharged without disconnecting the feed wires to the respective units of the radio apparatus.

The main object of this novel switch device i resides inthe means vwhereby the batteries will be connected in series during the use of `the radio apparatus, but wherein theconiiections to the switchfniay be tiansrered from series connection with'tlie units of the appaview taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a base elevation of the inner side lof the insulating strip provided with a parallel hookup arrangement. i

Fig. 5 is a similar elevation diseiosing the `insulating strip provided with the series hook-up arrangement.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectionalview through the rotor, and taken substantially on the line 6.-#6 of Fig. 8, and y Fig. 7 represents a perspective view of one of the cap members.

New for a more detail invention, I refer to the drawings, in Vwhich like numerals designate lilreparts. The condescriotion of iny struction of this switch includes a substantially rectangular shaped base 1, having an Lshaped standard 2 .arranged upon the base at each end thereof. Suitable binding posts 3 are in electrical connection with the stand-v ards, the latter being constructed of a con `insulating material, such ductive material, such for instance, as copper, or the like.

It is preferable that these standard nieinbers be connected adjacent one longitudinal `edge of the base, to allow a space for the spring lingers to be described fully hereinafter. Fiaclirof these L-shaped standards is `formed with an opening adjacent its upper end, wherein the respective ends of the rotor generally referred to by the numeral 4 may be journaled for rotation. f l

The ,rotor structure includes a pair of caps 5 and 6 of conductive material, the outer surface of each being substantially convex in shape, as clearly disclosed in the drawings. rlhe Vcaps are each provided with outstanding pintles 8 and 7 respectively, which are adapted to `project through the openings in Y the respective standards. rlhe inner face of each of thecapsis provided with aV pair of outstanding spaced plates 9--9.

The connecting body 10 of the rotor is substantially trl-shaped in crosssection. The pair of caps 5 and 6 respectively,are adaptn ed for association withthe opposite. end Vof the connecting body of the rotor, in a manner whereby the spaced plates 9 9 will engage the opposed surfaces of theweb portion 11 at each of its ends respectively.v .l

The` rotor body is to bel constructed of an Y as porcelain, hard rubber, ber, or theflilre.

. An elongated vstrip of insulating material 12 has arranged upon one side thereof, a pair of metallic strips 13 and 14 respectively.

This strip is substantially thesame length V as the rotor body 10, and is adapted for disposition within tlie rotor body. The outer end port-ionsof the respective strips 13 and 14, are of suitable area, to provide the posi-- tive contact against the outersurface of coplanarplatesS/-Q of the respective caps.

Thestrip 13 is reducedto a` narrow connector 15 which extends a substantial distance along the insulatinginaterial to terminate in spaced relation with the enlarged end portion ofthe plate 14. long this connector 15l at equal spaced intervals, inwardly projecting caps 16 are formed. Thejconductive strip .14 is likewise. shaped, being formed vwitha reduced connector 17, extendingA adjacent the opposite longitudinal edge of the insulating material to terminate in spaced relation with the enlarged portion` of `the strip 13. Y

The connector 17 is also formed with similar taps 18, which are equi-'distant in spaced relation between the taps of the parallel connector 15. Openings are formed through the strip of insulating material, and through each of the caps 16 and 18 respectively, vso that the openings will be arranged substantially in longitudinal spaced relation on the strip 12.

Contact members 19, substantiallyV rectangular in shape, Vare formed with their outer surfaces longitudinally curved. The arcuateA curvature of the outer surface of the respective contact members, is to be substantially'of the same diameter as the arcuate outer' surfaces of the connecting body. Each of these contact members is provided with a threaded pin 20, which is adapted to extend through the respective openings in the insulating material, to electrically connect through the respective caps 16 and'lS.

Nuts 21 are adapted to be threaded on the threaded ends of the pin 20 to secure the respectivecontact members tightly to the outer surface of the insulating strip, and to positively connect the respective capsv therewith.

The second strip of insulating material 22 kis provided with a multiplicity of contact members 23 arranged upon one side thereof, each of said contact members being in circumferential alinement with corresponding contact members of the opposed insulating strip. These contacts 23 also have their outer faces arcuate in like manner, and are provided with threaded pins 24, which extend through the strips and project for a substantial Y distance beyond the opposed sides. Pairs of these contact members are connected together at the opposite side of the insulating strip by conductive connectors 25. Vhile nuts 26 threadable upon the threaded pin are vemployed for assuring a positive electrical connection with the Contact members.

In this manner, the strip 22 provides a group of series connections, the purpose of which will be further described, hereinafter. A bolt 27, is employed at each end of the rotor, for securing the insulating strip within the rotor body. Spaced from the rotor 4 and in adjacent parallelisnrwith one longitudinal edgel of the base 1, a Vplurality of spring contact fingers 28 have one of their end portions secured between the strip of insulating material 29 and 30 respectively, these spring lingers being Vcomplementary to each circumferentially alined pair of contact members on the rotor, while the opposite edge portions of each of said fingers is secured between the respective insulating strips 29 and 30, in a manner to allow its ends 31 to kproject a slight distance beyond.

Bolts 32 pass through the respective insulating strips, and base, while the nut 33, may be threaded on the bolt for tightly binding the elements together. These bolts are arranged at spaced intervals, and between the strips ina manner clearly shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawing.

A to F inclusive, represent the positive and negative connections of the batteries, to the strip. Vhen' it is desired to employ this switch in conjunction with the radio apparatus, the handle 311 may be oscillated to bring the series contact members 23'into contact with the lingers 28. Inthis manner, the batteries will have their poles connected in series with the various units of the radio apparatus. However, when it is desired to charge the batteries, the charging source of current may be connected with the binding post 3.

l rlhe handle l may then be oseillated, so as to bring the contact members 19 into contact engagement with the ingers 28.V The charging currents will then pass thru the respective standards 2, the clamps 5-5, and through the respective strips 13 and 14, of the insulating strip 12. rI`he parallel arrangement of the contact members 19, by reason of the connectors 15 and 17 respectively, will change the hook-up arrangement with the spring arms 28 from a series connection to a parallel connection, simultaneously setting on the charging current.

It will now be seen that I have provided a very novel switch device, which will allow the uninterrupted service of the radio apparatus, while providing ready means whereby the batteries employed in conjunction with the apparatus may be recharged without disconnecting any of the connections. This will eliminate loose connections to the battery, as these connections may be soldered to the battery terminal, which heretofore has been impossible due to the fact, that these connections must be broken in order to recharge the batteries.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as newis In a switch of the character described comprising a base, a pair of spaced supports on the base, a rotor journaled between said supports, said rotor being formed with a pair of spaced longitudinal channels, a strip ofinsulating material arranged in each of said channels, one of said strips being provided with a plurality of contacts connected in electrical parallelism, the other strip being provided with a plurality of contacts connected in pairs, and a plurality of spring arms supported on the base and adapted to engage with the contacts.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LE- ROY LINDBERG. 

